Gwen confident of daughter’s capability as tourism honcho

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is confident that her daughter, incoming Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, will make all the Cebuanos proud as she vouched for her capabilities to carry on the mandate.

The governor thanked President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. for the vote of confidence to her daughter and to a Cebuana to take the helm at the country’s tourism portfolio.

As the mother of the next tourism honcho, Garcia said she is also “tremendously proud” of her daughter. 

“This is such a huge vote of confidence on the inroads the initiative and the progress that Cebu has been able to accomplish despite the challenges of the pandemic. The initiatives that we had successfully launch and consistently followed,” Garcia said.

The governor said her daughter will surely help the incoming administration with her capabilities.

 “She has always shown sheer determination through grit and above all, admirable passion for any responsibility that is given to her,” Garcia said.

According to Garcia, her daughter had practically grown up watching how she promoted Cebu and witnessed the tourism initiatives and its success in the province.

“She is very very serious about her work. She is not a reckless, spur of the moment person. She always studies very very carefully,” Garcia added.

 The governor also clarified that she will not interfere with how her daughter will manage DOT in the future, stressing that she has big trust and confidence in her.

 “I will not be a meddling mother or governor. I have full trust and confidence to Christina. Sa mga gusto… want position sa DOT please don’t send your application to me,” she said.

The governor recalled how the offer for Christina to become the next tourism secretary came about. According to her, they were having a conversation with the president-elect where Christina explained how Cebu managed to recover from the effects of the pandemic and the Typhoon Odette.

It was then that Marcos offered the position to Christina. The governor said her daughter consulted them—members of the family—and other sectors before finally deciding to accept the offer.

Garcia said she told her daughter that “this is such a manifestation of faith in Cebu because you will not be accepting it as Christina Garcia- Fracso per se. You are accepting the portfolio as a Cebuana and you will do the Cebuanos proud if you will accept it.”

In her post on Facebook, the incoming secretary said she is accepting the challenge with “profound gratitude and deep humility.”

“I am eager to support President-elect Marcos’ vision to revitalize tourism so it may significantly propel the Philippines’ post-pandemic economic growth,” Christina said.

She thanked the people of Liloan where she served as mayor for six years and was supposed to be on her third and last term after being reelected during the May 9 elections.

 “I will carry with me their love and affection as I heed the call to serve our country in a larger capacity,” Christina said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, FPL (FREEMAN)